Herzog’s helicopter makes emergency landing after memorial ceremony

President Isaac Herzog was forced to make an emergency landing on Thursday evening while returning from a state ceremony marking 12 years since Operation Protective Edge, according to ynet. The helicopter landed at an IDF base because of a technical malfunction, was taken for inspection, and Herzog later continued his schedule in another helicopter.

After the incident, Herzog was due to visit a bereaved family. At the memorial for those killed in Operation Protective Edge, he delivered remarks and laid a wreath.

The ceremony drew public controversy because, for the first time, neither the prime minister nor the defense minister attended. In response to the criticism, the government sent Minister Shlomo Karhi to represent it.

During the event, Herzog said, “Following the barbaric attack by Hamas on October 7 and the war that followed, we have reached a situation in which the IDF holds about 60% of the Gaza Strip.” He added, “Now we must act to implement President Trump’s 21-point plan, בראשו disarming Hamas.”